Maps of Marcellus Shale

Author	Message
Martin Saffer Oct 7, 2011 10:20 am	Maps of Marcellus Shale I have been "Googling" Maps of Marcellus Shale deposits in West Virginia and I find that Pocahontas County is on the edge of these deposits and that the thickness is much less than in central and northern West Virginia and Pennsylvania and New York. As you may know, thickness of the shale is directly proportional to the amount of gas. It may be that we are "spared" this Gas Rush and that we can continue to be the beautiful county we are well into many generations.
Joe Ferretti Oct 7, 2011 10:35 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale I am guessing, based upon reports of "blasting", that there were seismological testing already completed.
pipandco Oct 7, 2011 12:04 pm	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale I have a friend who recently brought land in the northern part of the county. The property was under a gas lease which was transferred when the land was purchased. Anyhow, she sought the advise of an economic geologist regarding the probability of drilling. After reviewing the geologic maps of N. Pocahontas, he concluded that gas companies would have much higher overhead extracting gas here than in many other parts of the state. He felt that companies could not realize profit margins considered worthwhile.
Stump Oct 7, 2011 4:05 pm	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale Having just read the eloquently articulated letter from the councilman in New York, I would wonder about the validity of the mapping information being reviewed. Are we safe to assume that the gas companies aren't coming here? I find it rather difficult to believe that the gas companies are in this area purchasing leases when no gas is available. Furthermore, I find it rather disturbing that we would drop our guard without further investigation. I do agree that we are possibly setting ourselves up for some major litigation from those downstream, which I might add, is everyone!
JIM Oct 9, 2011 7:30 pm	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale I believe I posted several months ago that drilling was very unlikely in poca.
Martin Saffer Oct 10, 2011 5:34 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/datastat/Marcellus/Downloads/WVMarcellusMap_pagesize_20110428.pdf this map shows the county split into two regions: in the southern half, shale thickness is 25-50 feet thick and in the northern half, it is 51 to 75 feet. These are not sweet spot numbers as far as huge production expectations. Remember, it costs millions to launch a single well and there must be a vast infrastructure supporting it. I too am puzzled at the talk that leases are still being sought here. I'd appreciate some solid information on that.
Martin Saffer Oct 14, 2011 5:44 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale I have spoken with two geologists at WVU who are very familiar with the geology of Pocahontas County and with two other geologists who all agree pretty much on the following: The County is not in the fairway of drilling activity. The underlying folds (like Devils Back Bone) make the geology here not prime for drilling in Marcellus shale. Long, flatter and fatter deposits are much better. (one geologists opined that the folding millions of years ago may have squeezed and crushed the shale to the extent some of the gas may have escaped long ago) The Utica shale here is judged to be of poor quality. There is no close-by infrastructure to get gas out, if retrievable gas was here. Karst represents additional problems and issues The drilling will be in western Greenbrier County and western Nicholas. The fairway is central West Virginia. The Commission will invite these people to speak. The karst expert will also be appearing soon. .
JIM Oct 14, 2011 8:33 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale If your main concern was about water quality, should you not be trying to stop drilling there? I don't expect an answer here either.
Martin Saffer Oct 14, 2011 9:13 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale Jim, actions by the Commission to "stop" or "start" anything only extend to the borders of the county. So we can influence areas adjacent to us but we have no real control. If our water would be compromised by actions adjacent to us, then I believe we could exercise the County's riparian rights.
JIM Oct 14, 2011 5:13 pm	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale I recall windmills that were in Va and some Greenbrier Co.
Martin Saffer Oct 15, 2011 6:13 am	Re: Maps of Marcellus Shale True we were concerned but our "authority" if any was at the border.

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